What's worst about this is Portis is missing the point and fanning flames in the locker room with poor thinking and poor analysis. His carries didn't decline because the team decided not to give him the ball. His carries declined because he and the offensive line were a lot less effective.

In those first nine games he average 5.0 yards per carry. In the last seven, he averaged 3.5.

When you're ripping off 5.0 yards per carry the team ends up moving the chains an awful lot, controlling the clock, and hence can feed you more carries. When you're only putting up 3.5 you end up punting a lot more because the chains aren't moving as well.

In the first 9 games, the team rushed the ball on 46% of its offensive plays. In the last 7, they rushed it 41%. But again, this is reflective of poorer performance of the running attack. If you're getting into 2nd and 7s instead of 2nd and 5s, of course the team has to up the passing attempts in order to get first downs.

He's off base. He and the offensive line need to look at themselves first.

__________________God made certain people to play football. He was one of them.

im with Portis. i cant remember how many times i was wondering what the hell Zorn was thinking, in regards to the play calling. im still old school when it comes to winning. run the ball, and play good defense. and with Betts, his carries should happen in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, not towards the ends of games. that's money time, and you go with your money back

__________________ "It's better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt."
courtesy of 53fan

im with Portis. i cant remember how many times i was wondering what the hell Zorn was thinking, in regards to the play calling. im still old school when it comes to winning. run the ball, and play good defense. and with Betts, his carries should happen in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, not towards the ends of games. that's money time, and you go with your money back

Clearly you didn't read my post. Facts are facts. Portis is an idiot.

__________________God made certain people to play football. He was one of them.

Bottom line, we faced better defenses the second half that shut down the run and forced us to pass. Zorn didn't shy away from the run for lack of trying. When you're down two scores in the 4th quarter, it sort of dictates that you will pass the ball more.

Like it or hate it.............he's right! Like how he comes forward with it or not.............he's still right. Zorn is an idiot! Plain and simple. And I don't mind Portis coming out and saying that in so many words. I mean, you have Betts, Portis, Sellers, and one of the biggest offensive lines in the league. This team is built to run the football! And it always has been. At least for as long as I've been alive. How can you go from running the ball, the thing that is actually scoring more than 10 points a game, to throwing the ball? Why fix something thats not broken? Its dumb! And you keep on with it for 7 straight games? Putting up 10 points a game!??!? Blaming execution for your losing streak? By doing those things, Zorn asked for players like Portis to come out and say the things that he has said.

Hopefully, Zorn a little more humble now and has listened to his players and his coaches.....................................I just can't help but think that Buges ripped Zorn behind closed doors............................Against San Fran Zorn went back to running the ball 30 times a game we put up over 20 points and almost beat them. And that was great to see! An offense that scores! It took two months, but.................hopefully Zorn has it figured out! We'll find out next year as it would really suck if we win 5 or 6 games; especially with the schedule that we have next year!

__________________"And the Redskins went down there and manhandled them and they basically undressed them and now everybody's been lining up to get a piece of them." - John Riggins on the last game we played in Texas Stadium

I guess Portis never heard this bit of wisdom; Better to be thought a fool, than open your mouth and remove all doubt. Portis' definitely doesn't have a bright future ahead as an analyst.....

The locker room "C-word" is beginning to rear its ugly head. The thing that concerns me most is that Portis is complaining about personal production first and foremost. Unfortunately we are stuck with this whiny-baby for 2009 & likely 2010.

__________________"I would bet.....(if), an angel fairy came down and said, '[You can have anything] in the world you would like to own,' I wouldn't be surprised if you said a football club and particularly the Washington Redskins.''  Jack Kent Cooke, 1996.

Whether he's right or wrong, this is the type of crap you keep indoors. Ugh, one bad (and most would argue that we EXCEEDED expectations) and Portis starts running off at the mouth. I hate the idea that Snyder values him over other players which I think gives him that attitude.

__________________Regret nothing. At one time it was exactly what you wanted.

I guess Portis never heard this bit of wisdom; Better to be thought a fool, than open your mouth and remove all doubt. Portis' definitely doesn't have a bright future ahead as an analyst.....

The locker room "C-word" is beginning to rear its ugly head. The thing that concerns me most is that Portis is complaining about personal production first and foremost. Unfortunately we are stuck with this whiny-baby for 2009 & likely 2010.

I totally agree about CP and the locker room c-word. He's getting real close now. The problem is that CP knows DS will back him over JZ or any other coach. Hence the coach's authority in undermined. Had CP pulled this crap on almost any other team he'd be suspended at least and at worst looking for another team that wants his services. I seriously doubt the Eagles or Giants head coach would let CP shoot his mouth off like this without some serious repercussions but those head coaches know the owner will back them.

Like another post said, when you are down a couple scores in the second half, and your team has big problems scoring its hard to run the ball because it shortens the game too much to make a comeback possible. The coaches didnt go away from the run because they wanted to, they had to.

Whether he's right or wrong, this is the type of crap you keep indoors. Ugh, one bad (and most would argue that we EXCEEDED expectations) and Portis starts running off at the mouth. I hate the idea that Snyder values him over other players which I think gives him that attitude.

EXACTLY....right and wrong DO NOT enter the equation......sadly CP does not get it. AND the John Thompson show is making a killing on his stupidity

__________________ Goodbye Sean..........Vaya Con Dios
thankyou Joe.......God made certain people to play football. He was one of them.  Joe Gibbs

BOTTOM LINE: Do not air the team dirty laundry in public! Cardinal rule!!!!
When you make a habit of it, you become a....Cowboy.
Very disappointing........

Could not agree more. Sounds like he needs a little guidance from from the front office or an explayer that he may respect. The last thing they need is the best player on the team trying to get the coach fired.

Like it or hate it.............he's right! Like how he comes forward with it or not.............he's still right. Zorn is an idiot! Plain and simple. And I don't mind Portis coming out and saying that in so many words. I mean, you have Betts, Portis, Sellers, and one of the biggest offensive lines in the league. This team is built to run the football! And it always has been. At least for as long as I've been alive. How can you go from running the ball, the thing that is actually scoring more than 10 points a game, to throwing the ball? Why fix something thats not broken? Its dumb! And you keep on with it for 7 straight games? Putting up 10 points a game!??!? Blaming execution for your losing streak? By doing those things, Zorn asked for players like Portis to come out and say the things that he has said.

Hopefully, Zorn a little more humble now and has listened to his players and his coaches.....................................I just can't help but think that Buges ripped Zorn behind closed doors............................Against San Fran Zorn went back to running the ball 30 times a game we put up over 20 points and almost beat them. And that was great to see! An offense that scores! It took two months, but.................hopefully Zorn has it figured out! We'll find out next year as it would really suck if we win 5 or 6 games; especially with the schedule that we have next year!

1) Read Schneed's Post #3 before you make the statement that Zorn is an idiot. I would take Zorn's experience/opinion (over 35 years) over Portis' any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Portis isn't the most cerebral guy on the team, he responds to everything emotionally.

2) Our offensive line is the smallest in our division: Average weight of OLs in NFC East: Eagles 330, Cowboys 327, Giants 315, Skins 302. By no means is our OL a "grind it out, smashmouth" OL. The average age of the starters, (with Jansen in) is 32 years old. Over a 16 game season of pounding an older, smaller OL will break down, that's what happened. Unfortunately this isn't the Hogs of 80-92.

3) Have you ever called plays for an offense with a poor OL up front....my guess is no. It's not fun and every playcall, even what should be simple ones, is difficult.

4) My guess is Buges isn't ripping anyone, it's his unit that was the primary reason for the 2-6 drop-off at the end of the season. Not that it's his fault, but IMO it's time for Buges to retire. We need to bring in an OL coach with WCO experience. We certainly need to retool the OL. We desperately need youth/size. C, and a young stud LT would be my primary targets. Move Samuels to the right side, he's having trouble with speed off the edge. Hopefully Rinehart develops and between, Kendall, Jansen, Heyer we have serviceable back-ups at C, G, T.

Portis needs to STFU and just play football, he's getting $ 5.6M in 2009 and $ 10M in 2010. Do your job, let the coaches do theirs. Nothing helps a coaching staff more than a highly paid veteran criticizing and whining to the media about internal dirty laundry every week.....

__________________"I would bet.....(if), an angel fairy came down and said, '[You can have anything] in the world you would like to own,' I wouldn't be surprised if you said a football club and particularly the Washington Redskins.''  Jack Kent Cooke, 1996.